Life of Christ Curriculum A HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS: MATTHEW MARK LUKE JOHN. And Make Disciples. The Cross and Beyond. Lesson 46: The Rich Young Ruler

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1 2011 Go Life of Christ Curriculum A HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS: MATTHEW MARK LUKE JOHN And Make Disciples The Cross and Beyond Lesson 46: The Rich Young Ruler Mission Arlington Mission Metroplex Curriculum Created for use with young, unchurched learners Adaptable for all ages including adults Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 1 of 13

2 46 The Rich Young Ruler Scripture Matthew 19:16-30 Matthew 20:1-16 Mark 10:17-30 Luke 18:18-30 Memory Verse Christ didn't have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIrV) Lesson Goals Understand that admittance into heaven is not granted based on works. Understand that admittance in heaven is a free gift offered because of God s great love for us. The following is a summary of the Bible story to help supplement your preparation. In your personal study time, use this summary as a guide, and make notes to help you remember your plans for the lesson. Please do NOT read to the children. Have you ever wondered about heaven? Have you wondered what it will be like? Did you know that those who go to heaven will live forever with God? Have you ever wondered about how to get there, one day? Well, you aren t the only one. The Bible tells us that one day a man ran up to Jesus. He fell on his knees before Jesus. Good teacher, he said, what must I do to receive eternal life? (Mark 10:17 NIrV) That sounds nice, doesn t it? This man who came up to Jesus was a leader and he was rich. He even addressed Jesus as a good teacher. There is a problem there, though. The only thing the religious leaders ever called good was the law. In fact, they said there is nothing good but the law. * This leader did not start out well. He wasn t completely honest with Jesus if he called Him good when he didn t really believe it. And did you notice how the rich young ruler asked the question? He asked, What must I do...? (Mark 10:17 NIrV) So Jesus directed him right back to the heart of the matter, No one is good except God. (Luke 18:19 NIrV) Do you remember what had bothered Jesus so much when only one leper returned after Jesus healed ten? Jesus had asked, Didn t anyone else return and give praise to God except this outsider? (Luke 17:18 NIrV) Jesus always and only wanted to glorify God, to point back to God and obey Him. Then Jesus asked the rich young ruler about the ten commandments. Teacher, he said, I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy. (Mark 10:20 NIrV) This ruler was a good man, but he felt within his heart that something was missing.* When Jesus heard this, He told the rich young ruler that only one thing was missing. He must sell all that he owned and then give the money to the poor. Jesus wasn t saying that keeping all the rules and giving all your money to the poor is the way to get to heaven. Jesus knew that this rich young ruler was living a selfish life. He was rich, and yet he gave nothing away. His real god was comfort, and what he really worshipped were his own possessions and his wealth. That is why Jesus told him to give it all away. * Wealth itself is not a problem. Many people who are wealthy use some of their money to help others. There is no evidence that this man helped anyone with his wealth. Jesus knew that this man needed to be free from the hold that money had on him. He needed to trust God completely rather than trusting in what he could do for himself. Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 2 of 13

3 Application Our memory verse says, Christ didn't have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIrV) How about you? Are you like the rich young ruler who thought his entrance into heaven was based on all the good things he had done? God is clear that the things we do have nothing to do with our admittance into heaven. If we are admitted to heaven it is simply because God loves us. What a wonderful story this would make if the young man had gone out immediately and sold all that he had. Unfortunately, when the young man heard this, he went away sad. He was very rich. (Matthew 19:22 NIrV) He wasn t willing to do what Jesus said was necessary. Then Jesus told His disciples that it is hard for rich people to go to heaven. He also said, it is hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. But it is even harder for the rich to enter God s kingdom. (Matthew 19:24 NIrV) Jesus disciples asked, Then who can be saved? (Luke 18:26 NIrV) Jesus response pointed right back to God, Things that are impossible with people are possible with God. (Luke 18:27 NIrV) Peter spoke up. He was thinking about all that he and the other disciples had left in order to follow Jesus. These disciples had counted the cost of following Jesus. They had left jobs and family. They had left everything to follow Him. Jesus encouraged them, and us, with these words, Everyone who has left houses or families or fields because of me will receive 100 times as much. They will also receive eternal life. But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:29 NIrV) What about you? Do you fight for first place or are you content being last? The rich young ruler thought only of himself. He didn t want to put God first in his life. Are you willing to surrender to God and let Him lead you wherever He wants to? God loves us so much that He gave His one and Only Son, Jesus. Jesus had done nothing wrong, but He died in my place and yours for the sin we have done. God offers eternal life as a free gift. Are you willing to accept that gift today? *Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Luke. The Westminster Press: Philadelphia pp Preparing for the Next Lesson Zacchaeus Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 3 of 13

4 Preschool Lesson Teachers: Bring a bag of money. Set it out in your Bible study area and listen to the comments being made. Refer to those later in the lesson. Have you ever wondered about heaven? Have you wondered what it will be like? Did you know that the people who go to heaven will live forever with God? Have you ever wondered about how to get there? Well, you aren t the only one. The Bible tells us that one day a man ran up to Jesus. He fell on his knees before Jesus. Good teacher, he said, what must I do to receive eternal life? (Mark 10:17 NIrV) He was asking about how to get to heaven. Then Jesus asked the rich young ruler about the ten commandments. Teacher, he said, I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy. (Mark 10:20 NIrV) This young man was a good man, but he felt like something was missing. When Jesus heard this, He told the rich young ruler that only one thing was missing. He must sell all that he owned and then give the money to the poor. Unfortunately, when the young man heard this, he went away sad. He was very rich. (Matthew 19:22 NIrV) This man loved his money more than he wanted to obey God. He loved his money more that he wanted to go to heaven! Then Jesus told His disciples that it is hard for rich people to go to heaven. He also said, it is hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. But it is even harder for the rich to enter God s kingdom. (Matthew 19:24 NIrV) Jesus disciples asked, Then who can be saved? (Luke 18:26 NIrV) Jesus response pointed right back to God, Things that are impossible with people are possible with God. (Luke 18:27 NIrV) It may be hard for rich people to love God more than their money, but it is not impossible. Do you love God? Do you love Him more than anything else? Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 4 of 13

5 Activities Memory Verse Activity - Make a cross out of craft sticks. Attach the cross to construction paper. Print the verse, including the Scripture reference. Encourage your students to fill out the journal/note page found on page 8. This can be used during the story to help focus your students or after the story as a review. Bring chocolate coins for a snack today. Review the lesson. Re-enact the lesson. Try threading plastic needles with yarn. Talk about Jesus statement, it is hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. But it is even harder for the rich to enter God s kingdom. (Matthew 19:24 NIrV) Sing Every Day With Jesus, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, or another song related to the lesson. Read and discuss Romans 10:1-17. Dig Deeper: In our lesson, we stated that God is clear that the things we do have nothing to do with our admittance into heaven. Look up the following verses and discuss them. Isaiah 64:6, James 2:, 2 Corinthians 5:15-21, Romans 6:23. Dig Deeper: William Barclay, in his commentary on the book of Luke, says of the rich young ruler, He was rich, and yet he gave nothing away. His real god was comfort, and what he really worshipped were his own possessions and his wealth. That is why Jesus told him to give it all away. * Discuss the applications of this. Dig Deeper: Discuss the following quote from William Barclay in light of Matthew 6:19-24, 33. The whole tendency of possessions is to shackle a man s thoughts to this world. He has so big a stake in it that he never wants to leave it, and never thinks of anything else. It is not a sin to have much wealth but it is a danger to the soul and a great responsibility. * Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 5 of 13

6 Christ didn't have any sin. But God made Him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 6 of 13

7 We can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 7 of 13

8 Trace the letters. Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 8 of 13

9 Story Title: Focus on the Story Scripture References: Main Characters: Story Summary: When? Where? What? How? Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 9 of 13

10 Word Search K Y B D R W E S U L W R A W M C H E U T N D I D T S I R H C H E L O B E T N A V U O Y A T A W U W I T H G O D R D O T E S F O O P H I T E H O E F C E D E Y T E G T N A E F H Y H V O V H N N I H A R F N T O R E N E T E S R M W S E I T U I I E B N A C E W E M G S A E S L F L W I H D R H Y P E D Y T E O T T G M A D E H I M N T E B R B A L D M V A O W O A L S M U I E M O C L L I W C T B H T S G Y O O E L W C V E S T H W M L O S R D O G T U B I A M F Can you find the memory verse in the puzzle above? Christ didn't have any sin. But God made Him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 10 of 13

11 Word Search K Y B D R W E S U L W R A W M C H E U T N D I D T S I R H C H E L O B E T N A V U O Y A T A W U W I T H G O D R D O T E S F O O P H I T E H O E F C E D E Y T E G T N A E F H Y H V O V H N N I H A R F N T O R E N E T E S R M W S E I T U I I E B N A C E W E M G S A E S L F L W I H D R H Y P E D Y T E O T T G M A D E H I M N T E B R B A L D M V A O W O A L S M U I E M O C L L I W C T B H T S G Y O O E L W C V E S T H W M L O S R D O G T U B I A M F Can you find the memory verse in the puzzle above? Christ didn't have any sin. But God made Him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 11 of 13

12 Preschool Word Search P R J E S U S T H A I N E I M R I C H M A N S D H A P E M J E S O N W S B M P C P O O S A D O P J A W O M H T A S Y L S E J E S U S H R O E S S S T O R S E L L A L L E S A M A R I E S H S T D F O L L O W A T I O N E D S E R E G T E R R B N L C A E L R T O A Y S J C O M M A N D M E N T S JESUS COMMANDMENTS SAD RICH MAN SELL ALL FOLLOW Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 12 of 13

13 Preschool Word Search P R J E S U S T H A I N E I M R I C H M A N S D H A P E M J E S O N W S B M P C P O O S A D O P J A W O M H T A S Y L S E J E S U S H R O E S S S T O R S E L L A L L E S A M A R I E S H S T D F O L L O W A T I O N E D S E R E G T E R R B N L C A E L R T O A Y S J C O M M A N D M E N T S JESUS COMMANDMENTS SAD RICH MAN SELL ALL FOLLOW Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex Curriculum Lesson 46/Page 13 of 13